Beale happy with U21s showing

Blues development squad coach Richard Beale felt his side were unfortunate not to beat Derby County after being held to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday afternoon.

Beale’s team carved out the better chances and the visitors were somewhat fortunate to leave Wast Hills with a point.

“It was a very competitive game against a Derby side that had a lot of players in their team that had first team experience,” said Beale.

“Before the match I’d said to our lads that they had to more than match what Derby threw at us. After a disappointing last game against Wigan (which Blues lost 1-0) they really stepped up to the plate and I thought they were excellent.

“They worked hard and kept a good shape and discipline and we created the better chances by far and could have won two or three nil. But Derby haven’t lost a game this season and were a tough nut to crack.

“The only thing that let us down was our finishing but I’d rather see us creating chances and missing them, than not creating chances at all. We got in behind them numerous times which we couldn’t do against Wigan, and on another day we’d have scored the goals and won the game.”

Individually, Beale felt a number of players deserved credit for their performances.

“Doyley (Colin Doyle) was not tested for a long time in the game but when he was called upon he delivered the goods and was a reassuring presence behind the back four,” said Beale. “Young James Fry deserves a special mention because he read the game very well for a young player and he was brave and combined well with Jack Deaman in the centre of defence and Callum Reilly did well at left back and left midfield.”
Blues’ standout player was Ravel Morrison (pictured above) who controlled the centre of the pitch, put plenty of tackles in and sprayed the ball around really well. Beale felt that his efforts were particularly impressive.

“Ravel Morrison was the player on the pitch with real quality,” he added. “He listened and worked hard and did himself no harm in trying to get himself back in the first team.”

They worked hard and kept a good shape and discipline and we created the better chances by far and could have won two or three nil.